Lake Tahoe

The day after Julia's birthday party, we headed to Lake Tahoe for our "babymoon" trip with 2 other couples who are also expecting. Megan and Travis are due in December with their first girl and Kristen and Israel are due in January with their second girl.

We had a wonderful time and packed in as many activities as we could in 5 days. The weather and scenery were beautiful. The highest temperature during our stay was 73 and the low was in the 30s.

The first evening we were there, we headed to Steamers for great pizza and beachfront views.

Left to right: Israel, Travis, Kyle, Melanie, Megan, Kristen

Day 1: We rented bikes and rode along the Truckee River from Tahoe City all the way to Squaw Valley and back, which turned out to be 16 miles. It was a gorgeous ride, and the weather couldn't have been better.

Under a ski lift at Squaw Valley

We ate lunch on the patio at River Ranch, which sits right on the river.

Day 2: We were going to kayak, but it was too windy so we headed to Donner State Park to see the Donner Museum and have a picnic lunch on Donner Lake. Then we drove to historic downtown Truckee to do some shopping that afternoon.

Our picnic spot

Day 3: We toured Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay. Then we had lunch on the south shore of the lake and continued all the way around til we got to Sand Harbor Beach, then back to the house. We drove the full perimeter of the lake that day.

Beautiful views from the parking area at Vikingsholm.

The 1-mile downhill hike down to the castle was a breeze!

The 1-mile hike straight uphill back to the car wasn't as much fun.

A look-out point on our way to lunch.

Sand Harbor Beach

Day 4: It was a much calmer day on the lake, so we decided to kayak. That afternoon, Kyle and Travis toured historic Thunderbird Lodge. The rest of us stayed at the house to rest. That evening we went on a nice dinner cruise on the Tahoe Gal to celebrate our last night of the trip.

Travis and Kyle at Thunderbird Lodge

The "Thunderbird" yacht

Dinner on the Tahoe Gal

Julia's 2nd Birthday Party

The invitation

The birthday girl

We were fortunate to have a drop in humidity and slightly lower temp the evening of the party so we could have it outside.

Cousin Madison was very interested in all the neat gifts Julia had to open.

The Harless family

Ana and Melanie

Unfortunately no one thought to take a picture of the cake before we cut into it. It was so cute and matched her invitation.

She still talks about having cake at her party.

Pop read the new Dora book to Julia and Madison

Caring Smiles

We've become involved in a new organization, Caring Smiles Foundation, and had a great time helping with the first fundraiser event. Julia enjoyed herself too!

Julia had her face painted.

Julia being held by Micah, her babysitter, and checking out her elaborate design (face painting sure has changed since we were kids.)

Mommy did it too!

(Beautiful photos taken by our friend, Sarah)

Recent Photos & Video

Helping Daddy drive the boat.

Adam and Jasmine came to spend a weekend with us and we went to the lake for some summer fun.

When Julia watches Sesame Street, she goes to find her Elmo and her Abby to hold during the show.

We met Kassy and Richard at Gattiland one evening. Julia was a little more reserved than she has been in the past, specifically on the carousel and the other "rides", but we made her get on them and have fun.

Showing off all of her bracelets

Below is a video:

Words and Sentences

Julia's vocabulary is incredible so for many months I never attempted to count them - until recently when I finally got curious enough to start a list of her words. The total I came up with is 700 - and she's not even two years old.

We are also amazed daily by the sentences she comes up with. Here are some of them...

• Daddy, you forgot my bib!
• May I have more water please.
• Mommy, you look pretty.
• Daddy, you tell dogs no barking.
• Where more weeds?! (since she loves to pull them and has kept our flowerbeds weed-free)
• Mommy, what 'r' you doing?
• Where my shoes on?
• Daddy, you watch FoxNews?
• Daddy put new light my bathroom.
• I had fun swimming.
• I'm so excited.
• Mommy, where are you?
• Daddy, you're all clean. You got dirt off.
  
• Here, Mommy, here! Here's your phone. I find it for you.

School Photos

On the last day of the summer school program at church, we were given a photo album with some photos and other keepsakes. She enjoyed it so much and is looking forward to starting back in the fall.Her teacher's name was Ms. LoraLee

Miss Caroline was the assistant

Julia on her nap mat - not asleep, which was typical. Out of the 14 or so days that she went, she only fell asleep about 3-4 times during nap time, and for whatever reason, besides the first day it was usually the days there was a substitute teacher.

Eating her lunch

Julia: 23 Months